While the UFC is the biggest and most popular mixed martial arts organization in the world, the WEC was once its leading competitor. However, in 2010 the UFC merged with the WEC and since then, the two organizations have functioned as one. So what exactly is the difference between these two entities? Let’s take a closer look.
What is UFC?
UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship, is a mixed martial arts promotion company. UFC President Dana White has said that UFC is “the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world”, and as of 2017, UFC events are broadcast to over 156 countries and territories, reaching 1.1 billion homes worldwide. UFC produces events both domestically and internationally, with shows taking place in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Mexico. UFC also has a significant presence on social media, with over 21 million followers on Facebook and over 2 million followers on Twitter. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC’s parent company is Endeavor Group Holdings.
What is WEC?
WEC World Extreme Cagefighting is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in the United States. The WEC was owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the same company that owns and operates the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). It was founded in 2001 and ceased operations in 2010, when it merged with the UFC. WEC featured both male and female fighters in weight classes ranging from 115 to 265 pounds (52 to 120 kg). WEC’s first event was held on February 13, 2001, at Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The WEC’s final event was WEC 53, which was held on December 16, 2010, at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. WEC 53 featured a total of nine fights, three of which were title fights. The WEC titleholders at the time of the merger were as follows: José Aldo (featherweight), Ben Henderson (lightweight), Dominick Cruz (bantamweight), and Brian Bowles (welterweight). All four WEC titleholders retained their titles after being promoted to the UFC. WEC commentating duties were handled by “Big” John McCarthy and Mike Goldberg.
Difference between UFC and WEC
UFC and WEC are both professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organizations. UFC is the largest MMA organization in the world, while WEC is a smaller organization. UFC was founded in 1993, while WEC was founded in 2001. UFC holds events all over the world, while WEC only held events in the United States. UFC features male fighters in multiple weight classes, while WEC only featured male fighters in the lightweight and below weight classes. UFC also has a women’s division, while WEC does not. In 2006, UFC was bought by Zuffa LLC, while WEC was sold to Zuffa LLC in 2010 and merged with UFC.
Conclusion
The UFC is the largest and most popular mixed martial arts organization in the world. It was founded in 1993 as a single entity, combining several existing organizations. The WEC was founded in 2001 as a regional promotion for lighter weight fighters, eventually being absorbed into the UFC in 2010. While both promotions have their share of memorable moments, there are some key differences between them. Let’s take a look at some of those distinctions.
